Joint U.S.-Canadian effort rescues 12 kayakers from San Juan Islands

A big rescue operation assisted 12 kayakers, including six children, who ran into trouble in the San Juan Islands Thursday.

The U.S. Coast Guard says a radio call came in on VHF radio, just before 2:00 p.m., from a group of kayakers in distress between Patos and Sucia Islands, just north of Orcas Island.

A 29-foot Coast Guard rescue boat out of Bellingham immediately launched.

That crew was joined by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Federal Policing – Pacific Shiprider Rescue marine boat crew.

The crew of a Washington State Parks vessel that happened to be patrolling the in the area also responded immediately to help rescue the group of kayakers.

Those vessels soon reached the area and were able to get all 12 kayakers safely to Orcas Island.

No one was hurt.

Six children were among a group of kayakers caught in high winds and strong currents in the Salish Sea, just north of Orcas Island and south of Vancouver, BC Thursday. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Coast Guard officials say since there probably were no cell phone signals in the area, the VHF radio used to call for help likely saved the lives of those in the kayaking group.

“A VHF marine radio is a mariner’s lifeline when there is no cell phone service,” Capt. Michael Hunt, deputy commander of the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, said in a released statement. “It proved its worth by helping save lives in the San Juan Islands.”

On Thursday, northern Puget Sound was one of the areas hit by an unusual August storm that moved into western Washington.

The system brought widespread rain and strong wind gusts, up to 40 miles per hour, throughout the region.

The powerful winds and heavy rainfall caused widespread power outages, downed trees and limbs, and fallen power lines, especially in the North Sound and in Snohomish and Jefferson counties.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police rescue boat that took part in the rescue of the kayakers is part of the Shiprider program, also known as the “Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations.”

It’s a joint Canadian-U.S. mission to monitor both sides of the international boundary line for crimes such as drug smuggling activity.

Officers from both countries participate in joint training in the Shiprider program and its operations.

Canadian vessels designated as Canada-U.S. Shiprider boats are comprised of a crew that includes one member of the United States Coast Guard.

Those ships can enter United States waters to enforce United States laws, due to the supervision and authorization, by the USCG crewman.

Likewise, USCG vessels designated as Canada-U.S. Shiprider boats also include a member of the RCMP.

Those vessels can similarly enter Canadian waters to enforce Canadian laws under the supervision of the RCMP officer.